Trolling lure



Aug. 25, 1964 E. K. AHO 3,145,497

TROLLING LURE Original Filed Dec. 51, 1959 JNVENTOR. 8, 4. E/NO K. 4140United States Patent 3,145,497 TROLLING LURE Eino K. Aho, R0. Box 123,Ashby, Mass. Continuation of application er. No. 863,347, Dec. 31, 1959.This application Feb. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 258,113 1 (ll-aim. (Cl. 43-425)This invention relates to a novel and improved trolling lure or spoon.

This is a continuation of application Serial No. 863,347, filed December31, 1959, now abandoned.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a trolling spoonwhich, while being effective in low speed trolling, is especiallydesigned for the high speed trolling, such as is incidental to theoperation of motor boats, and which has the extra stability in the waterwhich is necessary to eliminate or reduce wide amplitude and erraticmovements in the water which are incidental to high speed trolling withpresent trolling lures and which reduces the fish-attracting andfish-catching effectiveness of such lures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spoon of the characterindicated above which is suitable for and unusually effective introlling, casting, or spin-casting, and avoids undesired axial rollingor spinning in the water, and uncontrolled lateral darting, and which,instead, provides for a substantially horizontal serpentine movementwhile the spoon is vertical in the water.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lure of the characterindicated above which is simple and uncomplex in formation, so as to beproducible at relatively low cost, takes up minimum space in thefishermans kit, can be nested for compact shipment and storage, andwhich can be made in various sizes, with compensating greater weight forthe smaller sizes.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a lure of the present invention, equippedwith a gang hook and a lure attaching swivel;

FIGURE 2 is an edge elevation taken from the right of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a central longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 ofFIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, the illustrated lure comprisesa longitudinally elongated rigid body of symmetrical axially elongatedelliptical shape in plan, and made of uniform thickness plate or sheetmaterial, preferably metal. Thinner or lighter weight metal is used inthe larger sizes of lures, and heavier and/ or thicker metal is used inthe smaller sizes, so as to compensate for the tendency, otherwiseexisting in the smaller sizes, of vagrant and unstable action in thewater.

The lure body 10 comprises similar spear-shaped or elongated,semi-elliptical forward and rear portions 12 and 14, respectively, whichare laterally displaced rela- 3,145,497 Patented Aug. 25., 1964 tive toeach other and lie in parallel planes. The portions 12 and 14 areoppositely spooned, that is, have similar but reversed convex andconcave sides 16 and 18, respectively, which increase gradually in depthfrom the outer ends of the portions 12 and 14 to their inward ends.

At their inward ends, the portions 12 and 14 are joined to and mergeinto a forty-five degree diagonal intermediate portion 20, which, asshown in FIGURES 2 and 3, is substantially flat, and is curved only atits ends where the intermediate portion 20 is merged and flared into theinward ends of the portions 12 and 14, as indicated at 22 and 24,respectively.

At the forward end of the forward lure body portion 12 a hole 26 isprovided and has engaged therethrough a swivel attaching ring 28, and asimilar ring 30 is engaged through a hole 32 provided in the rear end ofthe rear body portion 14, for attaching a gang hook 34.

It is to be noted that the side edges 36 and 38 of each of the portions12 and 14 are in the same plane and that the convex surfaces 40 of theforward and rear body portions 12 and 14, respectively, arelongitudinally uncurved for a major portion of their lengths, and thatthe portions 12 and 14 have relatively shallow concavities andconvexities, so that the portions 12 and 14 are in a sense fiat portionsextending in laterally offset parallel longitudinal planes, relative towhich the substantially flat intermediate portion 20 is angled atsubstantially forty-five degrees.

When the lure is drawn forwardly through the water, by a line attachedto a swivel 42 attached to the ring 28 it shifts immediately to avertical position, and while in such vertical position, moves in aserpentine path in a generally horizontal plane smoothly and withprecision through the water, this serpentine movement being caused bythe oppositely concave-convex portions 12 and 14 with the offset,uniplanar side edges of each of said portions.

Proper dimensions for lures of the present invention are on the order ofa width, at the intermediate portion 20 of three-quarter inches for athree inch long lure, and on the order of one-half inch for a four inchlong lure.

Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form ofthe invention it is to be understood that the invention is notnecessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in thestructure of and in the relative arrangement of components thereof arecontemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined bythe claim appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

A fishing lure particularly adapted to high speed trolling comprising:

(a) an elongated, narrow lure body;

(b) the lure body including forward and rear portions integrallyconnected at their proximal ends and being tapered from their proximalends toward their distal ends whereby the lure body is of ellipticalform;

(c) means at the forward end of the lure body for securing a fishingline thereto;

(d) the forward and rear portions of the lure body each having only onecentrally located concave-convex section, the concavities of saidsections being oppositely facing the respective concave-convex sectionsbeing merged into one another at an intermediate portion of the lurebody;

(e) the side and forward edges of said forward section lying in a singleplane, and the side and rear edges of said rear section lying in asingle plane;

( the edges of the forward and rear sections being in spaced andparallel planes;

(g) the plane of the rear section being offset from the plane of theforward section; and

(h) a trailing hook secured to the rear section of the lure body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSBreidenstein May 19, Stanley June 15, Mapel Nov. 20, Richardson Jan. 7,Martin Apr. 5, Cordell Aug. 29, Reinard Aug. 14, Haury Sept. 10, BakerDec. 18,

